Visualization of and Access to CloudSat Vertical Data through Google Earth
نویسندگان
چکیده
Online tools, pioneered by the Google Earth (GE), are facilitating the way in which scientists and general public interact with geospatial data in real three dimensions. However, even in Google Earth, there is no method for depicting vertical geospatial data derived from remote sensing satellites as an orbit curtain seen from above. Here, an effective solution is proposed to automatically render the vertical atmospheric data on Google Earth. The data are first processed through the Giovanni system, then, processed to be 15-second vertical data images. A generalized COLLADA model is devised based on the 15-second vertical data profile. Using the designed COLLADA models and satellite orbit coordinates, a satellite orbit model is designed and implemented in KML format to render the vertical atmospheric data in spatial and temporal ranges vividly. The whole orbit model consists of repeated model slices. The model slices, each representing 15 seconds of vertical data, are placed on the CloudSat orbit based on the size, scale, and angle with the longitude line that are precisely and separately calculated on the fly for each slice according to the CloudSat orbit coordinates. The resulting vertical scientific data can be viewed transparently or opaquely on Google Earth. Not only is the research bridged the science and data with scientists and the general public in the most popular way, but simultaneous visualization and efficient exploration of the relationships among quantitative geospatial data, e.g. comparing the vertical data profiles with MODIS and AIRS precipitation data, becomes possible.
منابع مشابه
Visualization of A-Train vertical profiles using Google Earth
Online tools, such as those pioneered by Google Earth (GE), are changing the way in which scientists and the general public interact with three-dimensional geospatial data in a virtual environment. However, while GE provides a number of features to facilitate geospatial data visualization, there is currently no readily available method for rendering vertical geospatial data derived from Earth—v...
متن کاملVisualization of Nasa A-train Vertical Data on Google Earth
Google Earth is becoming a popular browser for online geographic-related data and information. It integrates satellite imagery, aerial photography, digital map data, and social-economic data to make a virtual three dimensional interactive template of our living planate. The Keyhole Markup Language, promoted by Google Inc., offers easy and convenient interfaces for people publishing, sharing and...
متن کاملCloudSat Reflectivity Data Visualization Inside Hurricanes
Animations and other outreach products have been created and released to the public quickly after the CloudSat spacecraft flew over hurricanes. The automated script scans through the CloudSat quicklook data to find significant atmospheric moisture content. Once such a region is found, data from multiple sources is combined to produce the data products and the animations. KMZ products are quickl...
متن کاملVisualization of Earth Science Data Using Google Earth
With Google Earth being widely used by the general public and professionals, Virtual Globes are revolutionizing the way in which scientists conduct their research and the general public uses geospatial-related data and information. NASA Goddard Earth Science Data and Information Service Center (GES DISC) developed a service-oriented online scientific data analysis system to provide customable o...
متن کاملCloudSat and A-Train Observations of Tropical Cyclones
The CloudSat 94-GHz Cloud Profiling Radar was designed to provide global information on the vertical structure of clouds. It was launched in April 2006, joining the A-Train of earth science satellites. Although primarily focused on clouds and climate, the CloudSat radar also provides a unique view of the vertical structure of clouds in tropical cyclones. The authors use data from CloudSat and o...
متن کامل